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Kylian Mbappe, 22, is the modern-day example of the term “early bloomer.” He made his senior team debut in December 2015, for Monaco. A year later, he registered his first hat-trick for the club, eventually playing a starring role as the team went on to beat Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Ligue 1 title race.
In 2018, he featured in his first-ever World Cup for France and helped them to a historic win, becoming the Best Young Player of the Tournament. He bagged the last three Golden Boots in Ligue 1 and is starting to become a serious contender for the Ballon d’Or.
Despite the honors he has accumulated so far, many believe Mbappe needs to move away from PSG to take the next step and stand on the same podium as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Real Madrid seem to be the Frenchman’s preferred destination, but nothing has been written in stone yet.
We will take a short stroll down Mbappe’s fine career at PSG today and give you five reasons why he should look to move away from the French capital sooner rather than later.
#5 To experience a different culture of football
Following their comfortable win in the 2018 World Cup, France has established itself as a booming footballing powerhouse. The national team arguably have the strongest line-up amongst its competitors. They also have a proven track record of doing well in big tournaments, meaning it would be unfair to thrash France’s footballing culture.
Kylian Mbappe has only played in France so far and is familiar with the surroundings. However, to excel as a top individual, it is often important to go beyond one's comfort zone. Even Lionel Messi, who has only played in La Liga so far, has had to adapt to Argentina’s brand of football while playing international matches.
Moving to a different league will be a step in the right direction for the PSG forward, and could propel Mbappe to greater heights in his career.
#4 To play in a more competitive league
Yes, France’s Ligue 1 was won by Lille last year. But that should not take anything away from the domination Paris Saint-Germain have demonstrated over the last decade. Thanks to an unlimited influx of top talents, PSG cruised their way to seven Ligue 1 trophies in the last decade, with Montpellier, Monaco and Lyon winning the remaining three titles.
Mbappe was part of that excellent Monaco team that beat Paris Saint-Germain in 2016-17, and arguably it has been his most impactful season yet. Moving to either La Liga or the English Premier League would allow Mbappe to be in a more competitive space. Being in the presence of other capable opponents could push Mbappe to up his game and unlock his true potential.
#3 To win the Champions League
Despite being only 22 years old, Kylian Mbappe has managed to accumulate 15 trophies, including the 2018 World Cup and four Ligue 1 titles. He has also been named Player of the Year and won three consecutive Golden Boots in Ligue 1 between 2018 and 2021. Now he only has one big piece of silverware to aim for - the Champions League.
Paris Saint-Germain came agonizingly close to winning the trophy in 2019-20, but the French team were eventually bested by Bayern Munich in the final. Last season, they were taken apart by Manchester City in the semis, with the English outfit cruising to a comfortable 4-1 aggregate win.
On paper, PSG have what it takes to bring the Champions League to France this season. However, they have not yet managed to find the winning mentality in the closing stages yet. Mbappe, who scored eight goals and provided three assists in 10 games last season, deserves to be in an environment that boosts his Champions League ambitions, and PSG, so far, have not delivered.
#2 To become a global icon
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are undoubtedly the two most popular figures in the world of football. Not only did the two superstars shatter all the records in sight, but they also managed to present themselves as marketable global icons - something Mbappe needs to learn away from Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite the national team's exploits at the World Cup, France's domestic league does not have the mass appeal that the Premier League or even La Liga do. PSG, as a club, are not in the same bracket as the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool, or even Chelsea. To become a familiar face, he must play in leagues that provide greater exposure. He must show how he fares against some of the toughest opponents in the business.
#1 To win a Ballon d’Or
Except for the Champions League, Mbappe has practically won it all for Paris Saint-Germain. Despite putting his best foot forward, he has not been a real contender for the prized individual accolade - the Ballon d’Or.
As great as Paris Saint-Germain are, they cannot be considered a hotbed for Ballon d’Or winners. Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona, on the other hand, have an excellent track record of promoting Ballon d’Or winners and it makes for Mbappe to get into the good graces of any of the three.
Additionally, having Neymar in the team does Mbappe no favors, as the Brazilian has always had a knack for stealing the limelight. The young Frenchman should look to forge his own path like Messi and Ronaldo did, devoid of an equally charismatic team-mate. And moving away from PSG and joining an iconic, prestigious club seems like the perfect solution at this point.
